Jim Stute, along with Tom Novak, kept seeing irregular spots of larger, dark green rye in their fields due to deer urine, a nitrogen source, suggesting nitrogen could be limiting following soybeans. This sparked some interest in intentionally fertilizing rye to increase biomass, which could provide benefits such as improved weed suppression, soil health, and conservation.
To investigate this idea, Jim Stute applied for and received a 2025 Nitrogen Optimization Pilot Program (NOPP) grant award. Jim, working with Tom Novak, is curious if priming rye with applied nitrogen in early spring will change the optimum N rate for no-till corn and maybe offset the slight yield reduction sometimes observed, even with timely rye termination.
Jim has been involved in several NOPP projects and is a strong proponent of participating in the program because it encourages farmers to explore questions on their own operations while providing support for the extra effort involved. As Jim puts it, “You get paid to experiment on your own farm. When you’re compensated for doing it, you pay much closer attention to it and make sure to complete it, even with so many competing tasks during the busy fall season.” He also recognizes the value of collaborative on-farm research, “Getting data from multiple regions, farms, and soil types is important for getting better N rate recommendations and farmer acceptance.”